The anatomical location of the arcuate fasciculus in the human brain: a diffusion tensor tractography study

Little is known about the detailed anatomical location of the arcuate fasciculus (AF) in the human brain, which could easily be applied for use in the management of patients with aphasia. In the current study, we attempted to describe the anatomy of the AF location in the normal human brain using diffusion tensor tractography (DTT).

We recruited 32 healthy volunteers for this study. Diffusion tensor images were scanned using 1.5-T, and DTT was obtained using PRIDE software. The AFs consisted of the horizontal part (anterior, superior) and the vertical part (posterior, inferior). We measured the location of the three points (the most posterior point of the vertical part of the AF at the level of the lower lateral ventricle, the most posterior point of the horizontal part, and the most anterior point of the horizontal part).

The most posterior point of the vertical part at the level of the lower lateral ventricle was located at the deep white matter around the posterior horn. At the level of the upper lateral ventricle, the most posterior point of the horizontal part was located at the deep white matter around the posterior horn, and the most anterior point of that was located at the deep white matter around the mid-portion between the anterior horn and posterior horn of the lateral ventricle.

We have reported the detailed anatomy of the AF location in the human brain. We believe that these results will be helpful to clinical neuroscientists for application in patients with aphasia.